Man says he had no fear trying to save woman jumping from Raiders stadium

Wednesday

Nov 27, 2013 at 4:00 AM

By Terry Collins | Associated Press

By Terry Collins | Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. -- When he saw a woman jumping from the upper deck at the Oakland Raiders' stadium on Sunday, Donnie Navidad said his military instincts immediately kicked in as he lunged forward trying to catch her.

But though he was injured in the process and authorities say he saved the woman's life, he maintains that he's no hero and that he would do it again.

"I just wished I would've grabbed her and held on to her," Navidad said. "I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do anything."

Both Navidad and the woman hit the concrete hard from the impact about 15 minutes after the Raiders' 23-19 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

Navidad said he was among several people pleading with the woman not to jump as he positioned himself to try catching her. When she plunged about 45 feet from the upper deck at the O.co Coliseum, Navidad, with his arms open, ended up breaking her fall.

The 61-year-old Marine Corps veteran was hospitalized overnight and was recuperating from a severely bruised arm at his home in Stockton.

The woman remained hospitalized in critical condition. Her name has not been released.

A Raiders season ticket holder, Navidad said he was with a buddy lingering near the Al Davis commemorative flame at the Coliseum when he saw and heard the commotion around the woman, who was on the ledge in the upper deck concourse area that's covered by tarp.

"I yelled up at her yelling, 'Don't do it, don't do it. Please don't jump,'" Navidad said. "And she started to descend and she let herself go."

Navidad said his military instincts kicked in as he lunged toward the woman trying to catch her.

"He couldn't grab and hold her, and that's what bothers him," his wife, Lora Navidad, said Monday. "He had no fear or thought for his own well-being."